In some cities and countries of the world, there are many strange and even ridiculous bans. For example, in the state of Iowa (USA), a man with a mustache is prohibited from kissing a woman in public. But there are countries that prohibit the most common things for Russians. Sometimes the reason is good intentions, which you yourself know where they lead. And sometimes bans are imposed for political, religious or economic reasons.
In our top 10 we have collected ten countries with the most ridiculous bans.
10. Greece - video games
And here are the good intentions, which turned into problems for fans of computer games. In an attempt to tackle the problem of illegal gambling, the Greek authorities in 2002 issued the notorious Law 3037, which prohibited the installation and play of "electrical, electromechanical and electronic games" in public places. You cannot play computer games even in private property. How upset it must have been to those who bought the best game console or a powerful gaming computer exactly the day before the law was passed.
The fine for violating it is supposed to be quite serious - 5,000 euros, and three months in prison are still attached to it. And this is the lightest punishment, for repeated violation the punishment is much more severe.
9. Malaysia - yellow clothes
It is completely illegal to wear yellow-colored clothing, whether it be boots, a hat, a T-shirt, or even a family brief, in Malaysia. Yellow is considered the “color of protesters”. The Malaysian government decided to ban yellow clothing for political reasons, due to the fact that a large group of opposition activists often wear yellow clothing during their actions.
8. Denmark is the "unofficial" name of the child
The Danish authorities have tried to protect newborn children from ridicule in the future. How? The state forbade parents to call their children strange names. You can choose your child's name from a list of 24,000 officially approved names. If you want to name your child something else, you will have to get permission from government officials.
Maybe this is a reasonable measure, considering what strange names give some Russians to their offspring.
7.Iran - Western haircuts
The Iranian government has banned several things that are foreign to the traditional spirit of the country, including Western music, skinny jeans and tattoos, and keeping cats and dogs as pets.
But Western haircuts come to the fore among the things that annoy the Iranian authorities. Such haircuts include: ponytail, hedgehog on the head and mallet. The Iranian Hairdressing Union has banned all of this because it believes that Western hairstyles are a sign of worship of the forces of evil.
6. China - jasmine
In 2011, jasmine was banned in mainland China. People were not allowed to sell one of the the most pleasant-smelling flowers in the world, grow and even talk about it. Even the word "jasmine" is being censored in the Chinese segment of the Internet.
And the thing is that the jasmine flower was chosen as a protest symbol in the Middle Kingdom after several revolutions that took place in the Middle East and North Africa. Chinese oppositionists urged people to silently go out every week with jasmine in their hands, thus expressing their "fi" to the authorities.
5. Burundi - jogging
A regular morning run with a healthy lifestyle group can lead to jail time if you run in Burundi. Yes, in this country, group running is viewed as an act of war, which is why President Pierre Nkurunziza officially banned it to avoid conflicts between ethnic groups.
It is very convenient for the Burundian authorities that, under the cover of this ban, some opposition leaders have been imprisoned. Don't run under the government's nose!
4. France - ketchup
According to the government of the country, spoiling national dishes with ketchup is a real crime. And teenagers consumed too much of it, spitting on long-standing culinary traditions. Therefore, the sale of ketchup in canteens of schools and universities in the country is prohibited. However, there is an exception - ketchup is served once a week, along with fries.
3. Australia - small breasts in porn movies
The country of kangaroo and Crocodile Dundee has distinguished itself with one of the strangest and even offensive prohibitions from the point of view of women, and understandable from the point of view of many men. There, shooting in films of the category "XXX" is not forbidden for women with outstanding mammary glands in every sense. But the owners of small breasts are not allowed.
The Australian government felt that screening girls like these would be a treat for the eyes of pedophiles, or worse, encourage child abuse.
2. China - reincarnation without government consent
As Vladimir Vysotsky sang "A good religion was invented by the Hindus: That we, having given up our ends, do not die for good." So, in China they die for good if there is no appropriate permission from the authorities.
The transmigration plan falls within the realm of "management measures for the reincarnation of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism," and only Buddhist monks are allowed to apply for such permission. The ban on all other persons was introduced in 2007 and is still in effect.
This was done for a reason, but to curb the influence of the Dalai Lama. After giving permission for reincarnation, the Chinese authorities will technically know where the new Dalai Lama may be born. If in the future a person appears who claims that he is the next Dalai Lama, he may be answered: "But we do not have records confirming this." In this way, control over Tibetan Buddhism is exercised.
1. North Korea - almost everything is prohibited
The most isolated country in the world and one of the the world's nuclear powers prohibits its citizens from many of the things that we face every day.
Free Internet access, calls abroad, the ability to leave the country without special permission, wear blue jeans, do creative hairstyles and listen to foreign music? No, you haven't. The Korean authorities are so harsh that they even banned viewing of adult films and buying related magazines. The punishment is the death penalty. By the way, condoms are also taboo in the country.
You still cannot drive a car without being a military man or an official who has received a special permit, and move to the capital of the country, again, without permission.
Finally, it is a crime to call a country North Korea while in North Korea. You should call her "Korea".